Buckley Bows Out of National Review  —  Obama: Better to Be Lucky Than Smart by Tina Brown  —  Christopher Buckley, in an exclusive for The Daily Beast, explains why he left The National Review, the magazine his father founded.  —  I seem to have picked an apt title for my Daily Beast column …

McCain Transition Chief Aided Saddam In Lobbying Effort  —  William Timmons, the Washington lobbyist who John McCain has named to head his presidential transition team, aided an influence effort on behalf of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to ease international sanctions against his regime.

Palin concludes Scranton appearance  —  STAFF REPORT  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, made her first Scranton appearance today at Riverfront Sports Complex.  She took the stage joined by her husband Todd and country singer Lee Greenwood.

Bush Strategist: McCain Knows He Put Country At Risk With Palin Pick  —  Matthew Dowd, a prominent political consultant and chief strategist for George W. Bush's reelection campaign eviscerated John McCain on Tuesday for his choice of Sarah Palin as vice president.

Obama's Ayers ad  —  Here's the audio of Obama's new radio spot responding to attacks on his relationship to Bill Ayers.  It's a version of his television spot accusing McCain of using “smears” to avoid talking about the economy, but — unlike the TV spot — mentions Ayers by name and discusses him at some length:

Obama Comments on ACORN Controversy  —  TOLEDO, Ohio — Sen. Barack Obama distanced himself from the voter registration group ACORN but also downplayed the fraud controversy that has embroiled the organization in recent days.  —  GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin told radio host Rush Limbaugh …

Rush Interviews Governor Sarah Palin  —  BEGIN TRANSCRIPT  —  RUSH: Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen.  Rush Limbaugh and Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by The Hollies taking us into our little chat here with Governor Sarah Palin, the vice presidential nominee for John McCain.

Wright 101  —  Obama funded extremist Afrocentrists who shared Rev. Wright's anti-Americanism  —  It looks like Jeremiah Wright was just the tip of the iceberg.  Not only did Barack Obama savor Wright's sermons, Obama gave legitimacy — and a whole lot of money — to education programs built around …

Halloween display aims for ‘shock value’  —  Democratic backer sends message by showing McCain, in KKK robe, chasing Obama  —  CATHARINE — Ron Havens has a reputation for provocative Halloween displays that reflect his strong political views.  —  But even Havens was pretty sure his latest effort was over the top.

“Monty Python Could Have Written This”  —  John Cleese on Sarah Palin:

McCain: Last Debate Will Probably Include Ayers  —  Speaking on St. Louis radio, the candidate says Obama's recent comments have “probably ensured” the former Weather Underground leader will come up in Wednesday's debate.  —  “I was astonished to hear him say that he was surprised I didn't have the guts” to talk about Ayers last week.

THE O JESSE KNOWS  —  JACKSON ON OBAMA'S AMERICA  —  EVIAN, FRANCE  —  PREPARE for a new America: That's the message that the Rev. Jesse Jackson conveyed to participants in the first World Policy Forum, held at this French lakeside resort last week.  —  He promised “fundamental changes” …

Palin vindicated?  —  Governor offers Orwellian spin  —  Sarah Palin's reaction to the Legislature's Troopergate report is an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation.  —  She claims the report “vindicates” her.  She said that the investigation found “no unlawful or unethical activity on my part.”

Buckeye Institute Files State Rico Action Against ACORN  —  COLUMBUS - The Buckeye Institute, a Columbus-based think tank, today filed a state RICO action against the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) on behalf of two Warren County voters.

DISGRACE  —  I always used to think former Sen. John Danforth (R-MO) was a respectable guy.  So why is he prostituting himself for the McCain campaign phony ‘vote fraud’ scam.  Just disgraceful.  —  Let's be clear about what this is.  These are random stories about fake vote registrations.

Obama widens lead over McCain, thanks to the economy  —  As election day nears, Barack Obama leads John McCain 50% to 41%.  Only 10% say the country is on the right track.  Still, the Democrat has not broken the race open.  —  With fear about the economy driving voters his way …

Racine schools hand out textbook with 15 page Obama love-fest...  This comes from the mother of a Racine Unified School District 8th grader.  She has asked to keep her name out of this but frankly I can't add much to what she has said here but I do have one question.

First Time FBI Calls Case an ‘Honor Killing’  —  Almost a year after two teenage girls were found dead — allegedly executed by their father — in the back seat of a taxicab in Texas, the FBI is saying for the first time that the case may have been an “honor killing.”

Michelle and Me  —  THE TRIALS OF BEING AN OBAMA BIOGRAPHER.  —  Reporting political profiles is like giving birth: You forget how painful it is until you go through it again.  And the minute you do, you think, “Somebody make it stop now.”  The begging for access, the plaintive calls to sources …